This one is especially for my stepdad, Jack, who called me this week to talk about the catbird in their Florida yard! (Click the picture to hear the poem.)

Do you have a favorite bird? Maybe you can write a poem about it, even one as short as a haiku.

Moongazing is a popular traditional subject for haiku, and tonight will be a good night to do it - it's a Full Pink Supermoon. Click here for more info, and enjoy the great and small wonders all around.

Each weekday in April, I'm sharing a new short video featuring me reading one of my published poems. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, these are poems for children. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, these are haiku suitable for children.

Thanks to my family for helping with this project (Morgan mentioned looking for online content for her third-graders; Seth whipped up some original guitar magic and texted it to me; and hubby Jeff followed me around this past weekend with my new-ish iPhone to make some recordings!). Special thanks to all the teachers, media specialists, and school staff, who, like Morgan, are missing their students so and doing their best to educate from afar.

Speaking of amazing teachers, the always-adventurous Heidi has our Roundup today at My Juicy Little Universe. And be sure to check out all the special Poetry Month projects around the Kidlitosphere at Jama's yearly Alphabet Soup Roundup. Thank you, you Wonderful Women! AND, follow the Progressive Poem, this year organized by another amazing teacher, Margaret!

Wishing you and yours peace and safety and health in these surreal days. Read, and write, lots and lots of poems!

(Note - Children under the age of 13 may only comment with demonstrated parental consent. Thank you.)

What a good idea, to have a YouTube channel and make poem-videos all April! ; ) Looking forward to it, and glad to know you are well.

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Heidi

April 03, 2020 12:51 AM EDT

Love it! What a treat to hear your voice and see you in your woods.

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Sally Murphy

April 03, 2020 4:17 AM EDT

Fun poem (if you don't have a rash) and fun video, Robin! I love that your sharing of poetry is a family affair. Be well. : )

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Bridget Magee

April 03, 2020 8:19 AM EDT

I love how this video is a family affair. :) For some reason my computer won't play the video (pretty sure a my-end living-in-the-country problem), so I will try again later! THANK YOU. xo

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Irene Latham

April 03, 2020 8:25 AM EDT

I enjoyed your videos, your poetry about nature and friendship, the South Carolina setting. You did a wonderful job and it's not easy to get in front of a camera a pull it off professionally as you did. I look forward to hearing more!

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Janice Scully

April 03, 2020 9:36 AM EDT

Love hearing you read your poem!

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Amy Zimmer~Merrill

April 03, 2020 9:37 AM EDT

Wonderful drama & poem, Robyn! Your woods remind my of my Missouri woods where indeed we had to be careful, so careful! In Colorado, too, but less. Wishing you a sweet Friday, hoping all goes well!

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Linda Baie

April 03, 2020 9:43 AM EDT

You had such a great idea. The poem is adorable. Thank you for sharing the poem.

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Patricia Cruzan

April 03, 2020 10:57 AM EDT

I love that your whole family is contributing to your videos. I'm not able to watch it now (We have limited Internet out in the country and I'm trying to save most of it for the two college students trying to finish up classes.) Your poem made me smile--my husband can relate all to well to that itch. Fortunately, I've not suffered too much, though I am more sensitive as I get older.

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Kay Jernigan McGriff

April 03, 2020 12:39 PM EDT

I'm so impressed and in awe of all the ways authors and artists alike are stepping up to the plate to make the rest of our lives richer. Thank you so very much Robyn.

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cheriee weichel

April 03, 2020 12:42 PM EDT

I can imagine kids having a ball with your poem, Robyn! I enjoyed your video and will be following along with them this month. Take care and stay well.

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Linda Kulp Trout

April 03, 2020 1:42 PM EDT

--Happy Friday, all you Lovely, Dear Friends! Please forgive a blanket "Thank you" at this point in the middle of the day; I've been away from my computer. I SO appreciate the many kind comments. I love hearing about your own woodsy experiences, and, of course, the poetic ones. :0) Thanks for taking a look at my new YouTube channel! Looking forward to making some Poetry Friday rounds later & this weekend -XO.

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Robyn Hood Black

April 03, 2020 2:21 PM EDT

Love visiting your part of the world -- you are finding the most beautiful spots to read your poems. Enjoying these videos immensely. You're a natural! :)

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jama

April 03, 2020 4:26 PM EDT

Love it! Such a fun poem!

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Books4Learning

April 03, 2020 6:07 PM EDT

Applause for the fun "Trouble on the Trail."Applause for fresh air.Applause for fun.

And for Your.Own.Video.Station. (channel, frequency, URL or whatchamacallit.) Brava!!!!

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Jan Godown Annino

April 04, 2020 7:56 AM EDT

Hahaha--great twist at the end, Robyn!

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Laura Purdie Salas

April 04, 2020 9:08 AM EDT

Thank you for this resource! I will be offering your mini videos to my students for enjoyment and inspiration!

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Mary Lee

April 04, 2020 10:16 AM EDT

__Thank you, Jama! We are lucky to be surrounded by so much natural beauty here! As long as we can still get out in it this Spring, I'm not complaining at all. (Lots of folks are using the Trail, but signs remind people to maintain distance so we CAN keep it open.)

--Oh, thanks so much, Books4Learning! :0)

--Jan, your voice is so unique I knew it was you before getting to your name... Thank you, my friend. Would love to get into trouble on the trail with you any day!

--Hi, Mary Lee - oh, thanks so much! I hope your students will enjoy. And I hope you are all staying sane in these crazy days.

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Robyn Hood Black

April 04, 2020 10:28 AM EDT

If you hadn't told us you were new at this, we never would have known, Robyn. You're a natural! I loved seeing your woods and listening to your read your fun poem.

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Catherine Flynn

April 04, 2020 10:43 AM EDT

--Aw, thanks, Catherine! I'm not shy, but I'm still a bit techno-challenged - ha! ;0) Hope you are finding time to read and write in the midst of carrying on your work from a distance. XO

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Robyn Hood Black

April 04, 2020 1:52 PM EDT

So fun, Robyn! To read and listen to, that is. Not to rub up against! xo

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Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

April 04, 2020 5:03 PM EDT

You're awesome! Thanks for what you're doing!

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Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

April 04, 2020 5:05 PM EDT

You're awesome! Thanks for everything you're doing!

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Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

April 04, 2020 5:07 PM EDT

Sorry, I didn't mean to say it twice. The "I'm not a robot" thing appears not to believe me. But then it turns out it did believe me, after all.

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Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

April 04, 2020 8:16 PM EDT

--Too funny, Michelle - glad you enjoyed! :0)

--Thanks, Ruth - and apologies for my over-sensitive Spaminator, or whatever it is. It seems to be doing that to lots of folks! I appreciate your persistence. ;0)

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Robyn Hood Black

April 05, 2020 1:41 AM EDT

Loved clicking on your channel and seeing and hearing your read the poem. I love that it's a family endeavor.

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pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com

April 05, 2020 10:35 AM EDT

Your poem is delightful, but it made me think about the weekly woods walks with my Kindergarteners that I am missing so desperately these days. Writing and poetry will see us through. Thanks, Robyn, and stay safe. -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/

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Christie Wyman

April 05, 2020 7:31 PM EDT

--Hi, Ramona - Thanks so much for coming by, and for the kind comments. :0) I am definitely lucky to have help from the Fam...!

--Oh, Christie, I know they are so missing you as well. What a tough time it is for teachers like you (& my daughter, Morgan) and countless others who had their kids kind of snatched away. I'm thankful technology keeps the lines of contact open, but I know it's not quite the same. Extra (long-distanced) hugs to you!